An Army Train Crossing the Plains; [Haper's Weekly, April 24, 1858, Volume II - No. 69, p. 264]

New York: Harper and Brothers, 1858. First Edition. Very Good. [Sheet 16x11in, Illustration 14x9.75in] Uncolored illustration of Army wagon train in traveling to as part of the Utah Expedition; Light age-toning along the edges. This illustration, titled "An Army Train Crossing the Plains," is an original wood-cut engraving published in Harper's Weekly on April 24, 1858. It depicts the Utah Expedition (also known as the "Utah War" or "Mormon War"), an armed political and economic confrontation between the U.S. government and Mormon settlers in the Utah Territory. The image illustrates the logistical challenge of moving troops, artillery, and supplies across the Great Plains. These wagon trains were often managed by contractors like Russell, Majors, and Waddell, using hundreds of oxen and specialized "Conestoga" style wagons.

The foreground shows a heavy supply wagon pulled by a team of oxen led by a teamster. Mounted U.S. Army soldiers and officers on horseback accompany the train to protect it from potential guerrilla attacks or "stampeding" of animals. In the background, the "train" stretches across the horizon, showing the vast size of the expeditionary force heading toward Salt Lake City.

On June 29, 1857, President James Buchanan declared Utah in a state of rebellion. He ordered a military force of approximately 2,500 men to escort the newly appointed governor, Alfred Cumming, to replace Brigham Young. To slow the army's progress, Mormon militia (the Nauvoo Legion) employed scorched-earth tactics, burning forage and forts like Fort Bridger and Fort Supply to deprive the federal troops of shelter and food. The conflict was eventually resolved peacefully in mid-1858, with Governor Cumming assuming his post and a general pardon being issued for past offenses. (from Wiki).